Frameless screen tension



Filed May 24, 1949 W n@ M 6 Patented Apr. 3, 1951 `UNITED STATES PATENToF'FicE FRAMELEss SCREEN TENSION Herman JVBlaser, Fostoria, Ohio, assignor to Keystone Wire Cloth Company, Hanover, Pa.,y a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 24, 1949, Serial N o. 95Q080 ZIClaims. (Cl. 1604-328) y a novel tension and securing means forframeless screens which embodies a construction that may be used eifectively in conjunction with both wood and metal window structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel tension and securing means for frameless screens which embodies features of construction that make the initial installation and subsequent removal and replacement'thereof comparatively easy and capable of being carried out by any person at all handy with the usual household tools. A further object of the invention is to provide a n Vel tension and securing device having Vthe features and advantages set forth which is of comparatively simplified and inexpensive con-Y struction, and is entirely foolproof and efficient in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafterfully set forth and described with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window frame showing a frameless screen embodying the presably mounted adjacent the upper portion I2 of a window frame F.

' At its lower end edge the screen mesh I0 is con-' nected to a bottom rail or bar I3 which has a vertically depending flange portion I4 of substantial height. Slidably associated with the flange I4 at the front or exterior side thereof is Y a sill strip I5 the lower end of which is rounded or otherwise suitably formed as indicated at i6 for contact with the surface of the sill I'I of the Window frame.

The strip I5 is slidably associated with the' flange I4 by means of plates I8 disposed at the inner side of the flange I4 and having. forwardly pressed portions I9 which extend through vertical slots 20 formed in the strip I4 and are securedjfor example, by welding, to the rearward face of the sill strip I5 as more clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. By this construction the strip I5 is retained parallel to the flange I4 and is prevented from rocking with respect thereto while at the same time being relatively and easily slidable in a vertical direction over the outer face of the flange I4 to the extent reent invention properly positioned and secured therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, partially in section, showing the construction and arrangement of the improved tensioning and securing device of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a detached enlarged perspective view of one ofthe tensioning devices with a portion of the housing portion thereof broken away to better illustrate certain details of the construction and arrangement of parts;

Fig. 4 is. a view in section taken on line 4--4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral I 0 designates the usual wire screen mesh which may be secured to an upper rail or bar Il that in turn may be detach quired t0 effect sealingengagernent of the rolled edge I6 of said strip I5 with ythe surface of the sill I1.

The improved tension and securing means for the frameless screen structure are mounted in horizontally spaced relation at the inner side of the frame I4 of the lower screen rail or' bar I3. In accordance with the present invention, each tensioning and securing device comprises a bracket structure generally designated by reference numeral 2I. The brackets 2l each include a box-like portion 22 open at the bottom and having at its forward edges oppositely directed lateral flange portions 23 by means of which the bracket structure 2| is permanently secured to the inner face of the flange I4, forl example, by spot welding or the like 24.

Below the housing portion 22 the flange portions 23 of the bracket are provided with ears or lugs 25 which are inwardly offset with respect to the surface of the ange I4 to provide a guide way in which a tension member 26 is adapted to slide in a Yvertical direction. Extending laterally inward from the upper end of the tension member 26 and normallydisposed within the housing portion 22 is a horizontal arm portion 21 having an opening therein upwardly through which is passed a bolt `2.8 that extends also through a suitable opening in the top of the housing portion 22. A wing nut or the like 29 is threaded on the portion 0f the bolt 28 which projects above the housing portion 22 and said bolt 28 is provided with a square or other polygonal-shaped head 3l) below the tension arm portion 21. The relative dimensions of the bolt head 3i! with respect to the distance between the side walls of the housing portion 22 are such that the housing side walls prevent rotation of the bolt and its head 3U within said housing portion.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the horizontal arm portion 21 of the tension member 26 is of channel cross-sectional shape, and with reference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the length ofthe said arm portion 21 is such that its end edges cooperate with the adjacent surfacesof the flange I4 and housing 22 respectively; to prevent rocking of the arm portion 21 under the pull exerted by the bolt 28 and thereby ensure movement of the tension member 26 in the vertical direction at all times.

Projecting inwardly from the lower end of the tension member 26 is a tongue portion 3l having an inclined terminal end portion 32 which is constructed and arranged to engage under the raised portion 33 of a sill bracket generally designated 34 and secured to the sill 110i the window frame, for example, by screw fasteners or the like 35 passing through the opposite end portions or feet 36 of said sill brackets 34. As shown forexample in Fig. Ll of the drawing, the congurati'on of the portion 33 of the sill bracket 34 is of generally V-shape in cross-section with the angular disposition of the respective portions thereof conforming substantially to the angle of inclination of the terminal end portion-32 of the tension member 23.

The construction and arrangement of the opposite end portions or feet 33 of the sill brackets 34 is such that the-sill brackets 34 are vproperly positioned on the sill l1 of the window frame F when the-front or-outer edges 33o of the sill bracket feet 36 reside in the same plane as the outer faces of the opposite side strips 31 of the frame against which the frameless screen is adapted to be secured. v

From the foregoing description it will be observed that with the sill brackets 3i! secured to the sill I1 in the position describedand in properly spaced relation with respect to one another for engagement by the lower ends of the tension members 26, all that it is necessary to do to tension and secure the screen in place is to engage the tension members under the sill bracketsin the relation shown and then tighten the wing nuts 29 on the bolts 28. Tightening of the nuts 29 causes the bolts to be drawn vertically upward relative to the housing portions 22 and to. carry with them likewise in a vertically upward direction the tension members 25 thus causing the tongue portions 3| to engage the sill bracket portions 33 and tension thescreen downwardly as the nuts 29 continue to be tightened to the desired degree. As the tension members 23 are drawn upwardly the inclination of the tongue terminal end portion 32 and the corresponding angular disposition of the sill bracket portion 33 function t0 cause the screen structure to be drawn inwardly against the outer faces of the side strips 31 of the window frame F.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the present invention provides a novel tensioning and securing means for frame- 4 less window screens which embodies features of construction that make the initial installation and subsequent removal and replacement thereof com'- paratively easy and capable of being carried out by any person at all handy with the usual household tools. By virtue of the novel construction of the sill brackets which occupy a minimum of space, the present invention provides a novel tensioning and securing means for frameless screens which may be used eiectively in conjunction with v both Wood and metal window structures. The inv, vention also provides a novel tensioning and securing device having the aforesaid features and advantages which is of comparatively simplied and inexpensive construction and is entirely foolproof and eilicient in operation and use.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and changes and modifications may be -made herein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tension device for a frameless window screen comprising a bracket adapted to besecured to the lower end of the screen and including offset lugs forming a vertical guide, a sill bracket adapted to be mounted on a Window sill, a, tension .member slidable vertically in said guide and having anupper arm portion and a tongue portion v.at its lower end adapted to engage under said sill lbracket, and means conectingthe upper arm' ,portion of the tension member and the bracket Voperable manually to draw the tension member vertically upward and engageA the tongue thereof with said sill bracket to place the screen under tension 2. A tension device for a 4rameless ,window screen comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the lower end of the screen including a housing portion open at the bottom and ofset portions belowthe housing forming a vertical guide, a sill .bracket adapted to be mounted on a window sill,

a tension member mounted for vertical sliding movement in said guide relative to said housing vand having an upper horizontal arm portion normally therein and a tongue portion at its .lower end adapted to engage under said sill bracket, and means connecting the upper arm portioniof Vthe tension member and 'said housing portion operable to draw the tension member upward and engage the tongue thereof with said sill bracket to place the screen under tension, said tension mem'- berarm portion being of channel cross-sectional shape having side portions theedges at one end 4of which slidably bear against the screen lower end and prevent bending of said arm portion under the upward pull exertedthereon.. i

y HERMAN J. BLASER.

'REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

